Talent & Tech Asia Summit 2024
human resources online

Keppel Club former employee sentenced to jail over membership scam

Following a recent S$37.5 million Keppel Club membership scam, the pair involved in the case have received jail sentences on yesterday (10 Jan). Its former club supervisor Nah Hak Chuah, was sentenced to three years’ jail; while club member Ivy Cheo Soh Chin was sentenced to 4.5 years’ jail - as reported by Channel NewsAsia.

According to the report, they had helped Setho Oi Lin deceive 1,341 people into paying a total of nearly S$37.5 million for non-existent memberships at the country club.

The report stated that principal district judge Bala Reddy said in his sentencing remarks that it was clear there were “inadequate checks” and “a lack of proper audits” at the club. According to him, this led to the offences being undetected for a long period of time.

The prosecution had asked for at least three years’ imprisonment for Nah as the “sheer number of (Nah’s) offences was an egregious breach of corporate integrity”.

In mitigation, Nah's lawyer Daniel Atticus Xu said that he had a “timid and submissive personality” and was “adhering to his supervisor’s (Setho’s) instructions” in entering the false data.

Nah was also suicidal after the death of his wife in 2008, around the same time the bulk of the offences were committed. He was later diagnosed to have depression and the condition was exacerbated by the death of several other family members. Xu added that Nah also did not intend to, and did not financially benefit from the act.

Cheo will commence her sentence on Wednesday while Nah will begin his on 15 January as he has to attend an urgent medical appointment.

The report also explained that court documents stated that the club had stopped issuing new memberships since 1996, but allowed existing members to sell their memberships. The mutually agreed price included a $12,000 fixed transfer fee, and an account activation fee of between $300 and $530 which will be paid to the club.

However, Setho started selling fake club memberships from 2004, sourcing for buyers on her own or through membership agents.

Between June 2004 and August 2014, Nah created 1,280 false entries in the club’s electronic membership database. The buyers had been duped into buying the memberships from phantom members. The entries were made without a corresponding deactivation of any existing member’s account.

Cheo received the payment for the membership transfers on behalf of Setho. From 23 Feb 2010 to 31 July 2014, Cheo helped Setho transfer $6.1 million and kept at least $151,500 as commission payments. Setho is out on bail of $300,000 and will be back in court on 9 February.

Photo / 123RF

Follow us on Telegram and on Instagram @humanresourcesonline for all the latest HR and manpower news from around the region!

Related topics

Free newsletter

Get the daily lowdown on Asia's top Human Resources stories.

We break down the big and messy topics of the day so you're updated on the most important developments in Asia's Human Resources development – for free.

subscribe now open in new window